Thursday's Things

It is Thursday. Thursday of my last week. Thursday of my last week at home on maternity leave. I'll leave you with that.

Some of our things this week...

Nursery School

This week, we are simply enjoying being home as a family before I head back to my teaching job. Thinking about work and trying to squeeze as much as I can in this week has left me a little frazzled. With my brain in a million different places, I have been very forgetful. In my desire to enjoy time at home, yesterday, we were supposed to visit a preschool for Kay next year, and I completely forgot. It was on my calendar, and I just didn't remember. Who does that? I am so bummed because now I won't be able to check out the preschool during the day when kids are present.

It's okay, I wasn't prepared to look at school for my two year old. Seems insane, but I have to start making plans for next year with child care and school even though I don't have the next four months quite secure.

Mom of the Year over here.

Working It

I am happy with the progress I made at the gym. This week, I really pushed myself because I am scared that once I head back to work, our schedule will really change.

Like I said, I still have a long way to go, but with every run, I feel better and better. I am not going to mention how I had to take two days off this week because I was so sore from a Body Works Class that I could barely walk. 

Girls
I am currently obsessed with Girls on HBO. I have watched the entire first season in a few days, and I am on to Season 2. It is hysterical. All I can say is, I am so happy that I am out of my early 20's...

Pumping, Pumping, Pumping
I have been hooked to my pump for the past few weeks because I am trying to save as much BM as I can before heading back to work. I am loving these bottles. Hubby got some for free at a trade show, and we tried them and it is all I will use while I am at work so I had to stock up.

Nighttime Sorrows

For the past few nights, this little girl has been needing some extra TLC after being put to bed. She goes to bed easily then within 20 minutes she is calling for "my daddy" and standing in her crib staring at the door. Doesn't that break your heart? We had to give her a little tough love last night, so we will see how tonight goes!

So that's what is happening around here. Not much new or exciting, as we are just taking it all in. I hope everyone is gearing up for the weekend! 

This Time Around...

This time around everything feels different. I feel so much more relaxed and I am going with the flow when it comes to parenting. My days are filled with joy and happiness. The love I have to give is overwhelming at times when I look at my daughters. I have grown so much as a parent and a person since giving birth to my sweet Keira. 

When you have your first born, you want your child to be and do the best. I wanted my child to hit every milestone marker and I wanted her to hit those milestones early like that is the measure of good parenting or something equally ridiculous. With Keira, it is different. She is the baby of the family, and I want to preserve that feeling for as long as possible. 

This time around everything feels different.

Keira is my baby cakes, and I am content in keeping her that way as long as possible. I am not worried about the little things that I worried about with my Kay. When will she gain more head control, when will she be able to do a push up, when will she roll over, when will she sit up? She will do it when she is good and ready. I will be perfectly happy and proud of her no matter what she does and no matter when she does it. 

The past four months, I have truly just loved being with this baby every second of every day. I am just enjoying her being my baby. She is the happiest girl, and that is what matter to me.

This time around everything feels different. 

I have a new type of mother's intuition. I have more confidence, and I have decided what is important to me instead of reading what should be important to me. 

This time around, I am okay with waiting. I am not in a rush at all. We are going at our own pace, and I am loving it. We are holding off on starting our first foods because we are not quite ready for that yet even if our beloved pediatrician gave us the go ahead. We are still exclusively breastfeeding, and we decided that this is what we need right now. 

This time around, I am following my sweet baby Keira's cues, and I am a happier, more fulfilled mommy because of it. 

Mommy Confessions - Hair Edition

Okay ... it is that time of the week. Time for me to let you in on some of my downfalls.

I confess that I have no idea what to do with this hair.

Channeling Miley Cyrus

This beautiful child has one insane head of hair. It is thin, uneven, and unruly. Some days it looks like it has been fried by a straightener or some other hot tool. Some days it looks like a bad chia pet. Most days it looks like a mullet. Lately, it has really started growing with these thin dead ends just covering her eyebrows.

Only problem is that it grows out away from her head! My little cutie has THE mop of all mops, and I confess I have given up. I don't want to cut it because I am not quite ready for that, and she doesn't have enough to cut quite yet. I fail at brushing it, I fail at giving her a little ponytail, and I fail at bribing her to wear one of the million cute headbands or bows we have.

 And even with this head of hair, she is the cutest kid around.

3 AM

Shhhhh... do you hear that? It is a quiet house. The girls are in bed and sleeping. This momma has a chance to relax and unwind. I usually spend my time at night using my laptop, reading a magazine or a book, but mostly watching tv. I love that time at night, but it is not my favorite. Me, I love 3am.

After going to sleep, I am awakened by the little grunts and groans of my little girl on the monitor. I wait a few seconds to make sure she is really awake then I head into her dark, quiet room. As soon as she hears the door open, she hesitates because she knows I am coming. Her cries soften and she waits to see me over the side of her crib. I love scooping her up and bringing her head to my face. We get snuggled in on our rocker and she nurses. She nurses so furiously at first because she is starving, but after a minute or two, she slows down and slows down until she falls asleep again.

This is my favorite time of the day or night...when we have this special time alone. I love how her little body curls up against mine and it seems to fit so perfectly. I love her little lips with a little milk ring. I love her hands and how when she is hungry she grabs my shirt with a strong fist and as she gets full her sweet hand opens up, softens, and she caresses my chest or my shirt. I especially love the nights when she doesn't fall asleep right away and she will look at me, smile, and talk. I picture her telling me that she is just as happy and full of love as I am at that moment.

With two little girls, it is hard to be present in the moment. We are usually playing, running around, moving quickly from one thing to the other. At 3am, everything is different. It is like the world has stopped for a moment and we are peaceful.

Thursday's Things

Thursday, Thursday. Some of our things this week...

Lazy Mornings
Trying to soak up the last of our lazy mornings. No more room on Mommy's lap for a little snuggle time. I am cherishing every second of it!

Fitness
I've been heading back to the gym. 4 months post baby and I am up to 4 miles in 40 minutes... not too shabby. Long way to go though.

Have I mentioned that I need a treadmill? I would have loved to get to the gym everyday, but with hubby's work schedule and travel schedule, it just didn't work out. At least I have Jillian to kick my booty at home on days when I just can't make it to the gym.

Love this DVD for a quick home workout while the kids nap! Up next, I am going to give yoga a whirl. I am hoping it will help strengthen and stretch my back that has been giving me problems.

Panini Press 
I am loving my new panini press that I got for Christmas! It is so easy to make your typical grilled cheese, but oh baby, this thing can produce so much more deliciousness than that. This week, we had patty melts from good old PW! Oh nelly, pure good thing I ran 4 miles that day heaven. We had some other random deliciousness too. I have my panini Pinterest board all hooked up, and I can't wait to keep on indulging in grilled glory.

Poor Teddy Boy
He has a huge scrape on his nose. One day, he came in from outside with it, and it looks painful. We have been putting Neosporin on it. Poor guy. It is starting to look better and now he is just missing some hair!

And yes, this is how he rides in the car. He is ridiculous. I can't even get dressed or he is in my face and barking at me because he thinks we are going somewhere. He is a maniac. He tries to be a good boy.

Tummy Time
We are still working on tummy time over here. This baby has NO interest in trying to do a mini pushup. She just lays there with her head on the mat and puts her tush up in the air. She is a stinker. I can't believe I actually snapped this pic because this is a rare occurrence. I probably propped her up that way and she held it for a few seconds. She will just not use her chest and arms to push up. Any suggestions for me to help her get stronger?

It has been a great week! Happy almost Friday all!

The Cold Is Here

Brrrrr ... baby it's cold outside! Freezing today. Ice everywhere. Hard to remember that just two days ago, we were dressed in sweatshirts and having fun at the park. So glad we enjoyed the gorgeous day!

 She climbs, slides, and runs her little heart out.

Hoping this weather doesn't last long. Our little ones love the park.

Mommy Confessions Tuesday

I confess that I hide behind the pantry door to eat shit so my toddler will not see me! 

*short pause for judgment*

Yes, you read that right. I am a closet eater. Whew! It feels good saying it. Fruity pebbles, Coco puffs, Chips, Popcorn, even if it is for one small taste, I hide. I hide because once she sees it, it is all over. 

Mainly, I offer my daughter a variety of healthy foods. For breakfast, we usually have oatmeal, green smoothies, fruit and yogurt, or the occasional pancakes or waffles. For lunch, we have some variety of hummus, whole grain crackers or pretzels, fruit and veggies, nuts, or things like that. I don't typically offer my daughter many snacks. She is not a big eater and she is extremely PICKY so I try to limit her snacks to ensure that she will at least be hungry enough to try and eat our healthy meal. 

You see, one small snack and she falls off the bandwagon. She goes bonkers. She will repeatedly open my pantry door and pull out everything and anything she can find.... and it is usually what little junk I have. How the hell does she know? For real, she has never had a Coco Puff in her life. She has never seen the box. How does she manage to go in my pantry and pull out the hidden box of Coco Puffs? She doesn't even know what they are!??!

"Bowl Mommy," she will say holding a box of some forbidden goodie. "Big Bowl Mommy," as if the teeny tiny take-and-toss container I got out isn't big enough for her little 25 pound self. 

So you see, this is why I hide. I hide and stuff food in my mouth before she sees me...before she sees it and where I am keeping it because if she sees me, it is all over. With a sly grin, she will pounce on me at warp speed. 

So there you have it. Now, I am off to read some other Mommy Confessions liked up with Megan and Heather. Thanks ladies!